Report: Anderson Silva’s Career Could Be Over After Failed Drug Test

The legendary fighting career of Anderson Silva could be coming to a close sooner rather than later.

According to a report by MMAjunkie, the former UFC middleweight champion faces a potential four-year suspension following his second failed drug test. USADA officials flagged a sample of Silva’s for methyltestosterone and an unspecified diuretic during a test conducted prior to UFC Fight Night 122.

Silva was forced off of the November card and out of a planned main event fight with Kelvin Gastelum after the test results were made public. In 2015, he failed a drug test following a contest with Nick Diaz in which Diaz was also flagged and the result was ultimately changed from a win by the Brazilian to a no-contest.

He was fined and suspended for a year following the first failed test by the Nevada Athletic Commission. That result came before the UFC implemented the USADA as the chief source for such matters.

In a report posted by Combate, members of Silva’s team have stated he likely would retire from fighting if the two-year ban is put in place. He could face even more time than that suspended because of the test results coming back with multiple banned substances found.

The 42-year-old Silva is 34-8 overall in his career with the one no-contest, but has won just once since 2012. That came last February when he defeated Derek Brunson.

From 2006 until a stunning second round knockout loss to Chris Weidman in 2013, Silva was regarded as not only the top middleweight in the world, but one of the best fighters pound-for-pound. He defeated the likes of Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort, Forrest Griffin, Dan Henderson and Rich Franklin during his incredible run.